“Maybe” is the newest single from Stephen Lysak, a recent graduate of Stevens and one of the school’s most well-known performers. He is a seasoned composer, pianist, and producer preparing to release his full-length senior thesis album titled “Blind Film.” Lysak has been releasing music on all major streaming platforms since 2017, but he has been composing and playing for his entire life.
Before COVID-19 ruined everything, the Stevens Audio Engineering club used to put on a monthly “Jam.” These took place all over our scenic campus and featured performances by our local artists. If you had ever been lucky enough to attend one of these events, it is likely you witnessed the piano expertise of Lysak. His ability to blend genres and immerse himself in song, often as a solo performer, was always a highlight of the show.
Lysak has a long history of collaborating with other artists on his productions and “Maybe” is no different. This track is an epic piano, vocal, and guitar arrangement that is as unpredictable as it is catchy. The punchy piano part is nicely complemented by the clean soaring vocal line that is supplied by the artist “Leahnie.” The song features an interesting method of tension and release as the listener is barraged with dissonant ambient arpeggiators, and then clarity is achieved when the vocalist opens up and pierces through the texture. About halfway through the song, the piano takes a step back and an elegant guitar accompaniment provided by Cara Moses takes its place. Moses is a longtime friend of Lysak who has been a frequent collaborator since high school. This serves as the calm before the storm as the extended outro features a drastic change in tempo and allows Lysak to truly showcase his piano talent.
Lysak was practicing in the piano lab on campus when the song came to him, well before thinking about what his senior thesis was going to be. It was well into the process of constructing his thesis that he decided this track would adapt nicely to the album and serve as a proper lead single. Although written on a grand piano, all piano sounds were recorded as Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), which is musical data allowing the notes to be recorded in real-time but also letting him manipulate everything in post-production. That same MIDI data was used to create every other instrument heard on the track including the congas, harp, and synthesizers. He chooses this method of production because it preserves the sanctity of live performances but allows for unique electronic creations. He lists Randy Newman as one of his key influences for this piece.
While the production of this song and album was greatly affected by COVID-19, Lysak saw it as both a blessing and a curse. Quarantine made it impossible to record in the same room as collaborators and students lost all access to the professional labs on campus. However, there was a silver lining to this new remote method of production. Lysak was a commuter, so having no need to travel every day gave him free time to pursue music like he never had before. Most artists adjusted to recording remotely, which made the list of possible collaborators for this project grow greatly. Finally, all art is shaped by the experiences of its creator. This new album will serve as a medium for Lysak to tell his story of finishing college in the tumultuous year of 2020.
Lysak already has a large discography, but his upcoming album is his most ambitious project to date.
“It’s a dark comedy electronic rock opera about a me-like character graduating from a music and technology program and going out into the world, trying to find a job. It’s got 40 songs (most of which are pretty short), and it tries to take the listener on a journey through a story of a satirical post-grad future. I really made this album for myself as well as for my friends at Stevens. It’s honest, it’s strange, and it was a whole lot of fun to make. I’m hoping to have it out March 26.”
“Blind Film” according to Lysak
“Maybe” is available on all major streaming platforms now. Be on the lookout for “Blind Film” in the coming month.
Stevens Music Spotlight is an Opinion culture column written and created by Trevor La Due to increase the knowledge and give reviews of music produced by Stevens students.
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